Chicagoans of the year: Jose `Pepe' Vargas
Over the last two decades, Jose "Pepe" Vargas has been quietly building his legacy as a film festival director and Chicago cultural leader. Not only will the soft-spoken Colombian native celebrate the 20th birthday of the Chicago Latino Film Festival in 2004 -- but this year Vargas started planning a $50 million fundraising campaign for a new home for the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago, currently housed in modest offices at Columbia College.

He hopes to break ground for the complex within five years.

"That is not wishful thinking, it's based on what we have accomplished so far," Vargas, 53, says. "We understand that we are needed. . . . We are hereto make a difference, and we are making a difference."

Notice the lack of "I" in his sentences. Vargas doesn't easily talk about himself, crediting his staff whenever possible, using "we" in the collective -- not royal -- sense.

Yolanda Arias, project coordinator for the Chicago Film Office and a longtime Vargas friend, has watched the Chicago Latino Film Festival grow from a small festival with low turnout to a lavish, 14- day event of 35,000 attendees.

"It has been an amazing thing to witness," Arias says. "He's gone through a lot, jumped over so many obstacles and has created just an amazing film festival."

The festival led to the founding of the Latino Cultural Center, an umbrella organization that brings Latino arts and artists to Chicago, and which now manages the Chicago Latino Film Festival. The festival -- under Vargas' direction -- also remains dedicated to harvesting new talent. On average, among 70 feature films each year, 12 are from first-time filmmakers.

"It has been extremely difficult, but we are working with something we value dearly," Vargas says. "We understand the value of film, the power of cinema. It gave us the inspiration to depart from it . . . we have music, poetry and comedy to share, so that's what we are doing now. This isn't about Latino arts for Latinos -- it's for everyone. The culture transcends any language barriers."

He's talking, of course, about a new headquarters for the Latino Cultural Center.

"I think the center has been his goal for many, many years now," Arias says. "But his idea has always been to have a nice facility where music and theater and film can be combined."

In 2003, Chicago ushered in a new theater for music and dance and witnessed the closing of several smaller ones. We watched the record industry to do battle with downloaders, even as local labels flourished. We were treated to several bold, dramatic new buildings - - even if a certain stadium by the lake received most of the attention. For the 19th year, Chicago Tribune critics have selected as Chicagoans of the year the artists, entertainers and administrators who have had an impact in our city and on the national scene. The critics who contributed to this package are Alan Artner, Robert K. Elder, Chris Jones, Blair Kamin, Julia Keller, Greg Kot, Michael Phillips, Howard Reich, Sid Smith and John von Rhein.

Robert K Elder. Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Ill.: Dec 28, 2003. pg. 9